Ireland flanker Fergus Slattery made his international debut in a draw against South Africa at Lansdowne Road in 1970. Slattery had played club rugby for Blackrock College and UCD before embarking on an international career that took in 61 caps for Ireland and four for the British and Irish Lions.

Slattery first toured with the Lions in 1971 but did not start any of the Test matches as the tourists collected their first, and only, series win in New Zealand. With the back-row berths claimed by John Taylor, Peter Dixon and Mervyn Davies and Slattery still a newcomer at international level the man from Dun Laoghaire would have to wait until 1974 for his shot at a Lions Test jersey.

In South Africa Slattery was an invaluable member of the touring party that came to be known as "the invincibles". He started all four Tests as the Lions won the series 3-0 and skippered the side twice during midweek tour matches.

For Ireland, Slattery captained their hugely successful touring side in Australia in 1979 when they won seven of eight matches in Australia including the two Tests in Brisbane and Sydney. In 1982 Slattery started all four games of Ireland's Triple Crown season, being denied the Grand Slam by France in the final game of the Five Nations.